New To Bowls - Looking For help and guidance?

It doesn’t matter what variation of bowls you play, whether its indoor carpet bowls, outdoor lawn bowls or crown green bowls, the fundamentals of how you play bowls and win the game is exactly the same.

Simply get your bowls as close as physically possible to a smaller white ball known as the “jack”.

Crown Green Information

Our excellent and in-depth beginners’ guide will tell you everything you need to know about the crown green game and how best to get started.

Flat Green Information

Learn more about the “flat green” game, and how you can get involved. Whether you’re interested in playing indoors or taking part in the short mat game our guides will hopefully point you in the right direction to get started!

Why play bowls?

Like most games, bowls offers the opportunity for players to perform the best of their potential, and provides a source of great enjoyment for each player.

It appears to be a game that can be played in a calm and quiet way, where there does not seem to be too great a physical demand made upon any participant. It seems to be measured and methodical, deliberate and disciplined, as befits a game of great skill.

But this description can be misleading because, in the heat of competitive play, players will demonstrate a wide range of emotions. The game can provide moments of great joy or deep disappointment, euphoria or despair.

Bowls demands concentration and control, courage and caution, decisiveness and a delicacy of touch. It requests true sportsmanship and an honest appreciation of an opponent’s skill, without losing belief in oneself and the determination to win. It needs strict mental application with a tight control over any negative thoughts, and the physical and emotional strength to with withstand the pressure of a 3 to 4 hour game. It demands compatibility among players as well as trust and confidence in others’ directions and decisions. Finally, it requires total involvement.

It provides comradeship, friendship and a better understanding and acceptance of others. It can teach players to lose well and win well, and to be genuine in their congratulations, regardless of whether a winner or a loser. It can offer contact over a wide age range and promote a greater acceptance of individuals of different age groups. It can offer gentle relaxation or the excitement of intense rivalry.

Of course, other sports could lay claim to such advantages, but bowls has its own particular rewards, from the enjoyment of playing as an individual to the team involvement of the rink. It is recognised as one of the fastest-growing games in Britain, and perhaps that fact is the best advertisement for what the game has to offer.

Bowls.org.uk – Bowls Club Finder Tool

Find your nearest bowling club using our interactive online map!

Interested in learning to play bowls but not sure where to find a local club?

Our club finder tool includes a number of bowls club up and down the country, whether you’re looking to play crown green, flat green, indoor or shortmat – there’s a club for you. Simply click on the map area and zoom in to your location, click on the club that’s closest to you and their information page will open. Here’s you’ll find a brief history and introduction of the club along with contact information and detailed information on the type of bowls the club plays

If you’d like to add a bowls club to our Club Finder page, don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!

Need Help or Advice?

Here at Bowls.org.uk our mission is to promote the sport of bowls and encourage new members to take up the game we love.

Whether you're looking for a club to join, wanting to learn more about the game or needing advice on their first set of bowls. We're here to help you as best we can.